Magnetic printing plate holder



April 4, 1957 T. K. LASH MAGNETIC PRINTING PLATE HOLDER Filed May 6, 1966 I INVENTOR. Tfzeodar A. Lasfe ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiiice 3,312,167 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 3,312,167 MAGNETIC PRINTING PLATE HOLDER Theodore K. Lash, 37 W. 9th St., Bayonne, NJ. 07002 Filed May 6, 1966, Ser. No. 548,094 3 Claims. (Cl. 101382) This invention relates to a new and improved magnetic printing plate holder to be used in combination with all types of letter presses, and specifically to be used in crash printing which is the printing of names, ad-

dresses and other information on previously printed forms, such as insurance policies having numeorus carbon snap-out copies and on single sheets such as greeting cards.

The invention has advantages over known printing devices using magnetic force to hold type in position in that it avoids complicated wiring systems required for electromagnets and provides a strong magnetic force to hold a printing plate by the use of a permanent magnet positioned longitudinally in a holder. This position of the magnet has advantages over known printing devices in that the longitudinally placed magnet exerts magnetic force across the entire magnetizable plate resulting in a firmer hold on the plate, whereas prior devices exerted force only against the ends of a magnetizable plate. This position of the magnet also permits the use of a magnetizable plate which is smaller than the holder and which does not reach to the ends of the holder because the plate is exposed to the magnetic poles of the magnet, regardless of its length.

In letter press printing processes now in common use, the procedure for printing names, addresses and other identification on previously printed forms consists of setting up pre-formed lines of lead type or slugs in a strong steel frame 'or chase, tightening the chase, correcting the alignment of the letters in the form and finally retightening the chase. Because of the expense of preparing the lead slugs, they are usually stored for future use, thereby causing a large area of the print shop to be, utilized for storage purposes. The storage of the lead slugs also results in each printing shop having a large monetary investment in the type metal itself, which is costly.

In an ordinary small print shop, a skilled operator is required to prepare the lead slugs; a skilled printer is required to align thetype in the form for printing; a filing clerk is usually required to'keep the used slugs in an organized system.

It is an object 'of this invention to provide a magnetic printing plate holder constructed with a permanent magnet, which can be locked into any position in a letter press to hold a printing plate made of magnetizable material, the plate being afiixed to the holder by magnetic force.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a magnetic printing plate holder, any number of which can be locked into desired positions in the chase of a flat bed printing press.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magnetic printing plate holder which can be locked into the form of a fiat bed press which contains in addition a mast head and electro Linotype or hand set type.

Another object of this invention is to decrease the production time, expense of labor, materials and storage facilities heretofore required in the printing of identification such as names and addresses on previously printed forms." The type-embossed plates are prepared in a few minutes on a graphatype machine, similar to a typewriter, by an unskilled Worker, and are inexpensive enough to be discarded after each use, thus eliminating all storage problems.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dev1ce whereby the words to be printed can be embossed directly on a'magnetizable metal plate, the plate being secured directly to the magnetic printing plate holder without the use of tools by the attraction of the mag netic force of the permanent magnet in the holder, and printing operations started without further adjustments.

Another object 'of this invention is to provide a magnetic printing plate holder which is simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture and which can be used with all existing letter presses-such as flat bed, cylinder and platen presses.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more fully apparent from a detailed consideration, the appended claims and accompanying drawing showing preferred forms of this invention.

My invention contemplates a type holder in the form of a rectangular block constructed with a permanent magnet to which a magnetizable metal plate having type embossed thereon is afiixed by the attraction of the magnetic force exerted by the permanent magnet.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of holder with a magnetizable printing plate in exploded position;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section of the holder on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the holder in position in the printing bed, showing a portion of the metal frame or chase;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a letter press form showing the magnetic printing plate holder in various positions and in combination with hand set-type.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the magnetic printing plate holder shown generally by the number 1, is constructed of a rectangular block 2 of a rigid non-magnetic material, such as cast aluminum, a convenient size being approximately 5%" long, 1% wide and A" high. This size block 2 is convenient to handle and is approximately the size of metal address plates which are easily obtainable on the market; however, the length and width of the block can be adjusted according to the printing job. The height of the block 2 is limited to approximately 4;" by factors to be discussed below.

The block 2 of rigid non-magnetic material 1 is formed with a longitudinal U-shaped groove 16. 'A permanent, U-shaped magnet 3 is fitted into the groove 10 of the block 2. The U-shape of the magnet exposes the poles of the magnet along the entire longitudinal groove. A strip of rigid non-magnetic material 4 is fitted into the interior curvature of the magnet 3. The magnet 3 and strip of non-magnetic material 4 are pressure fitted into the block to form a rigid unit in order to insure a firm, flat surface for printing.

Two pin-head stops 5 are integrally formed in each corner of one 'of the sides on the upper surface of the holder 1. The stops 5 may also be affixed by drilling small holes in the block 2 and tapping pro-formed stops therein. These stops 5 serve to fix the position of the printing plate 7 which is formed with notches 8 at each corner along one of the sides. The block may be constructed with a thumb notch 6 along the edge of the upper surface of the block 2 opposite to the side on which the plate stops 5 are located. The thumb notch 6 facilitates the removal of the printing plate 7 from the block 2, by upward finger pressure.

Except for the plate stops 5, the upper surface of the block 2, the arms of the magnet 3 and the center strip 4 are planed'to provide a smooth surface for support of the printing plate 7.

The printing plate 7 is formed from sheets of magnetizable metal or alloy of such gauge that letters may be embossed upon it with a graphatype machine. The printing plate '7 may be of such size as to coincide with the length and width of the magnetic holder 1. The corners of one side of the printing plate 7 are formed. with notches 8 in such position to coincide with the plate stops 5 on the magnetic holder 1. The notches 8 permit the plate to be placed in the exact position required for the printing job without any further adjustment and without the use of any tools.- The position of the U-shaped magnet 3, wherein the poles 'of the magnet are exposed along the entire groove of the block provides sufficient magnetic force to firmly hold the magnetizable printing plate 7 by magnetic attraction without other fastening means. The position of the magnet 3 permits the use 'of the holder with the magnetizable plates of an area size smaller than the holder 1 because the poles of the magnet are exposed longitudinally across the plate, providing a magnetic field to hold a magnetizable plate that may not reach the ends of the holder 1.

As previously indicated, the height of the magnetic holder 1 is approximately seven-eighths /8") inches. The height of the magnetic holder 1 and the magnetizable printing plate 7 which has the desired words and letters 9 embossed thereon is critical in letter press operations, in order that the printing operation produce a sharp, clean impression. Therefore, the distance from the base of the magnetic holder 1 to the upper surface of the embossed letters 9 or stem must be type high, as the height is. expressed in the printing trade and which is the height standard used in general printing operations. The height of the unit of the holder 1 and the embossed printing plate 7 is adjusted to type high by machining the under surface of the holder 1.

In FIGURES 3 and 4, I have shown my invention in a letter press form, indicated generally by the number 11. Metal, wood or plastic bars 12, known as furniture, used as spacing material, fill the non-printing area of the form. The magnetic holder 1 is fixed in the desired position by the use of furniture 12. The form is locked within a metal frame 13 or chase. The magnetizable printingplate 7 is affixed to the magnetic holder 1 and the printing operation is ready to begin. Sharp impressions can be secured on previously printed sheets having a plurality of carbon copies in a unit. When the desired number of units have been printed, the magnetizable plate 7 is lifted by finger pressure from the magnetic holder 1 and replaced with another. The pinhead stops 5 fix the position of the plate 7 upon the holder 1 and no further adjustment is required.

Numerous magnetic holders 1 can be positioned in a letter press simultaneously as is shown in FIGURE 4 and the magnetic holders 1 can be used in conjunction with electroplate, Linotype, or handset type 14.

. It is obvious that the magnetic holder 1 can be made of such size as to incorporate a plurality 'of permanent magnets, thereby permitting the size of the magnetizable plate 7 to be increased accordingly. The magnet can be asymmetrically positioned in the block 2, if necessary, to accommodate the printing to be done.

It will-thus be seen that I have provided a new and improved printing plate holder which can be readily used with all existing letter presses.

Modifications may of course be made in the illustrated and described embodiments of my invention without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A magnetic printing plate holder comprising a rectangular block of rigid non-magnetic material formed with a longitudinal groove; a U-shaped permanent magnet fixedly positioned in said groove, the poles of the magnet being exposed along the entire longitudinal groove; a strip of rigid non-magnetic material fixedly positioned within the groove of the magnet, said exposed poles and said non-magnetic material forming a fiat embossed plate receiving surface; a magnetizable embossable printing plate formed to the same area dimensions as the flat plate receiving surface, two pin-head stops positioned on each of the corners of one 'of the sides of the flat embossed plate receiving surface of the holder and in which the magnetizable printing plate is formed with notches in each of the corners 'of one of the sides to provide a guide for positioning the plate upon the holder.

2. A magnetic printing plate holder as set out in claim 1 in which a thumb-notch is formed in the edge of the flat embossed plate receiving surface of the block to provide a space from which the plate may be finger lifted from the block.

3. A magnetic printing plate holder comprising a rectangular block of rigid non-magnetic material formed with a plurality of longitudinal grooves; a plurality of U-shaped permanent magnets positioned in said grooves, and pressure fitted therein, the poles of the magnets being exposed along the entire longitude of the grooves; a plurality of strips of non-magnetic material formed to fit within the inner groove of each magnet; two pinhead stops integrally formed on one of the sides of the exposed surface of the block; a magnetizable, embossable printing plate formed to the same area dimensions as the exposed surface and formed with notches in each corner of one 'of the sides to meet the pin-head stops formed on the holder and to provide a guide for positioning the plate upon the holder without further adjustment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. PENN, w. F. MCCARTHY,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. A MAGNETIC PRINTING PLATE HOLDER COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR BLOCK OF RIGID NON-MAGNETIC MATERIAL FORMED WITH A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE; A U-SHAPED PERMANENT MAGNET FIXEDLY POSITIONED IN SAID GROOVE, THE POLES OF THE MAGNET BEING EXPOSED ALONG THE ENTIRE LONGITUDINAL GROOVE; A STRIP OF RIGID NON-MAGNETIC MATERIAL FIXEDLY POSITIONED WITHIN THE GROOVE OF THE MAGNET, SAID EXPOSED POLES AND SAID NON-MAGNETIC MATERIAL FORMING A FLAT EMBOSSED PLATE RECEIVING SURFACE; A MAGNETIZABLE EMBOSSABLE PRINTING PLATE FORMED TO THE SAME AREA DIMENSIONS 